In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Vereeniging factory busted for R400,000 UIF debt as inspectors uncover secret tunnel for escape of undocumented workers EWN reports that a team of fire and rescue officers had to be roped in on Tuesday to assist in inspecting an underground tunnel at a factory believed to be used for the escape of undocumented foreign nationals. The tunnel was discovered at Vientiane PVC Ceilings and Pipes in Vereeniging. A large group of employees are said to have run into the underground tunnel and escaped when law enforcement agents arrived for an inspection. Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, led the operation at the company, believed to be using cheap labour. Inspectors found two registers for employees at the factory, one for South Africans and the other for foreign nationals. Records show the company owes over R400,000 in Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) contributions. While its annual submission of return earnings should have been R3 million, the company dishonestly cited a figure of only R140,000. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Jabulile Mbatha at EWN
Teachers becoming targets of violence and crime in South Africa BusinessTech writes that growing criminality in SA has now put teachers in the crosshairs and they are increasingly at risk of violence at certain schools across SA. This is the view of Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), who expressed deep concern over the increasing violence targeting teachers in the country. This after a 54-year-old teacher in Stellenbosch was shot and killed outside Khayamandi Primary School, and there was a double murder at Ingleweni Primary in Tembisa last week. Speaking about the growing threat, Manuel stressed that “our teachers are under siege, and the level of violence is what is most worrying.” He went on to say: “There have always been issues in and around schools, particularly in schools that are difficult to teach at because of community violence, but the murders of late leave one a little taken aback. The real reasons haven’t yet come to the fore, and they could be one of many, but the level of violence needs serious attention.” When asked what measures could be put in place to protect teachers, Manuel acknowledged the challenges, saying that one of the difficulties was that police or even security guards could not be deployed at every school. However, he added that it needed to be brought to the attention of the authorities that the difficult-to-teach schools were just a handful, and protection should be targeted for those schools. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malcolm Libera at BusinessTech Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Trade union MAWUSA hints at forming its own political party EWN reports that the Maanda Ashu Workers Union of SA (MAWUSA) has hinted at forming its own political party. Leader of MAWUSA Robert Nwedo recently resigned as Deputy President of Floyd Shivambu’s Afrika Mayibuye Movement. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Nwedo said he left the Afrika Mayibuye Movement amicably because he wanted to focus more on his union. Over the past years, MAWUSA has formed working relationships with the ANC, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and, more recently, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement. However, Nwedo said these relationships have not amounted to anything, as political parties only see workers as voting fodder. “Immediately after my resignation, automatically we are busy now with broader consultations, not only with workers but with all stakeholders that are affected by the injustices of the country. Then after our consultation, we will be able to know as MAWUSA which direction we going to take,” Nwedo commented. MAWUSA’s national organiser, Cedric Chauke, was a bit more forthright and said: “In due course, we will announce a final position and definitely the name of that political party that will be led by MAWUSA as a movement.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Thabiso Goba at EWN
Sibanye-Stillwater seals three-year wage deal with unions at its SA gold mines News24 Business reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has reached a three-year wage agreement with unions at its SA gold operations. The deal represents an annual average increase of 5.4% when all benefits are included. It is effective from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028 and ends a negotiation process that began in July. In terms of the agreement, Category 4 to 8 employees (which refers to lower-skilled and semi-skilled workers) will receive the greater of the standard-rate increases or fixed monthly amounts. These are R850 in year one, R900 in year two, and R1 000 in year three, translating to percentage increases of 4.5%, 4.8% and 5% respectively. The higher-skilled categories of miners, artisans and officials will receive increases of 4.5% in the first year, 4.8% in the second, and 5% in the third. The agreement was signed with all representative unions, namely the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers, (NUM), Solidarity and the United Association of SA (UASA). The previous three-year agreement, reached in 2022, had followed a three-month strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at News24 Business (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Sibanye-Stillwater inks three-year wage agreement with local gold mine unions, at Mining Weekly
Petrol prices to increase by 29c a litre on Wednesday, with large diesel hikes as well News24 Business reports that petrol prices will increase by 29c a litre on Wednesday, with large hikes in diesel as well. The price of 95 octane petrol will increase to R21.41 per litre in Gauteng and R20.58 at the coast. The wholesale price of diesel with 0.05% sulphur will increase to R19.79 per litre in Gauteng and R18.96 at the coast. Illuminating paraffin’s wholesale price will be hiked by almost 75c a litre on Wednesday, while the maximum LPGas retail price will increase by 24c/kg, with a 9c/kg increase in the Western Cape. Local fuel prices are determined in part by the cost of oil and the rand-dollar exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollar. However, as large local fuel refineries have shut down, imports of refined fuels into SA have surged in recent years, with international petrol and diesel prices playing a large role in determining local prices. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy explained that international petrol and diesel prices increased due to unplanned refinery outages in the northern hemisphere, which resulted in higher refinery margins. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at News24 Business (subscription / trial registration required). See too, Here are the official fuel prices for December, at BusinessTech. En ook, Motoriste dok op dié Desembervakansie, by Maroela Media
South Africans come first in public service employment, public service and administration department insists TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has moved to dispel public concerns about the employment of foreigners in state institutions. Briefing the media on Tuesday, acting deputy director-general Anusha Naidoo said foreigners made up only 0.44% of the public service workforce, and every appointment complied with the Public Service Act, the Public Service Regulations and SA’s immigration laws. “Recruitment processes prioritise South African citizens and will always prioritise South African citizens,” Naidoo said, adding that foreigners were considered only when specialised expertise was needed to strengthen institutional capacity, or in the event that verified skills shortages were confirmed by the departments of home affairs and employment & labour. Naidoo pointed out that SA could not operate in isolation and she referred to the country’s international obligations and partnerships. “As the public service, we are not an island. We have relationships with every country in the world. Various treaties and our own sovereignty mean we cannot simply exclude foreigners. But we assure you: our country will always prioritise our local talent,” Naidoo assured. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Bulelani Nonyukela at TimesLIVE Foreign nationals fill SA’s skill gaps in education and health sectors BusinessLive reports that according to the Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA), about 0.44% of public servants in SA are foreign nationals. Of the estimated 1,390,216 public servants, there were 6,333 foreign nationals employed in the public service at the end of April, and the department wants to tighten the strings on their employment. The number of foreign workers was particularly concentrated in the education and health sectors, where 3,305 and 2,625 workers, respectively, were employed at national and provincial levels combined. Acting deputy director-general Anusha Naidoo said the two sectors have the “highest concentration” of foreign nationals because South Africans are not open to the idea of working in far-flung areas. “Do we keep the skill vacuum – that is, leave the schools without teachers – or do we advertise and if a foreign national applies, we take them through the recruitment process, and if they qualify we appoint them?” Naidoo asked. Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube told MPs last week that more than 30,000 teachers had either resigned or been dismissed from public schools over the past five years. The cabinet recently approved a white paper on the national labour migration policy and the Employment Services Amendment Bill, both of which aim to ensure the prioritisation of local workers and set clear guidelines for the hiring of foreign workers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Staff salaries at ANC’s Luthuli House head office not paid, again Sunday World reports that just days before the start of its all-important national general council (NGC), the ANC head office has failed to pay staff salaries for November. The non-payment of salaries, confirmed by Luthuli House general manager Patrick Flusk, has raised questions about whether the organisation has money to finance the 1,600 delegates who will attend the NGC mid-term policy review gathering starting next Monday. This is the fourth time this year that the ANC has failed to meet its payroll obligations to its employees at its Joburg-based head office. Livid staff members warned that they would likely boycott the NGC should their salaries not be paid by this coming weekend. This is despite a letter from Flusk seeking to assure employees and debtors that the salary payments would come, without putting a date. Debit orders of ANC workers in Luthuli House have already bounced, some with the potential of penalties when the money eventually reflects in their bank accounts. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande AmaShabalala at Sunday World
Former Ekurhuleni municipal manager denies backing Brig Mkhwanazi’s 55 irregular appointments SowetanLive reports that former Ekurhuleni municipal manager Imogen Mashazi has told the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday that she did not support the 55 irregular appointments made by suspended metro police acting chief Brig Julius Mkhwanazi. However, she said she did not recall what she did about it. The Commission is hearing evidence of alleged criminality, political interference and corruption within law enforcement. It previously heard from suspended Ekurhuleni chief of police Jabulani Mapiyeye that between May and July 2024, Mkhwanazi made 55 appointments without his consent and was protected by Mashazi. These appointments included directors, inspectors and superintendents. On Tuesday, Mashazi was asked if she supported Mkhwanazi’s conduct in this regard. Mashazi responded: “I didn’t lend support to his appointments. My letter is clear that he didn’t consult the chief of police [Mapiyeye] and he was reprimanded. So the assertion that I supported him, I cannot agree [with it].” Mashazi was then asked what she did after not supporting Mkhwanazi, and she responded: “I don’t recall.” Commissioner Sesi Baloyi lambasted Mashazi and told her that it appeared as if she did not take the work of the commission seriously. Mashazi, with a lowered voice, responded: “No comment.” The hearing continues. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Herman Moloi at SowetanLive Former Ekurhuleni boss under fire over appointment of deputy metro police chief Cape Times reports that former Ekurhuleni municipal manager Dr Imogen Mashazi has indicated that she was prepared to accept responsibility for the potentially irregular appointment of Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi as deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). Mashazi conceded this when testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, investigating political interference in the criminal justice system. Her testimony followed suspended Police Chief Isaac Mapiyeye's recent allegations that Mkhwanazi's appointment had been irregular, as the interview process lacked a competency assessment report. Mapiyeye, as the chief of police and chair of the interview panel, testified that the panel had not reconvened to consider Mkhwanazi's competency assessment report, leaving the interview process incomplete. Mkhwanazi, who is currently suspended, was previously appointed as acting police chief by Mashazi. He has been accused of facilitating unauthorised memorandums of understanding with CAT VIP Security and Medicare 24, companies linked to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, an alleged criminal kingpin. Mashazi testified that Mkhwanazi did not have the authority to enter into external agreements. Regarding Mkhwanazi's appointment as deputy chief, Mashazi stated that she was not involved in the process because she was on leave at the time. But, the vidence leader confronted Mashazi with Mapiyeye's testimony. Mashazi said: “The process can't be valid if the competency assessments were not done.” When asked if she would accept responsibility for the potentially irregular appointment, she replied: “I do.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rapula Moatshe at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Bail of R5,000 each for two accused in Tembisa Hospital bribery case SowetanLive reports that a Tembisa Hospital employee and a Hawks official arrested in connection with a R100,000 bribery solicitation attempt have been granted R5,000 bail each. The duo are accused of attempting to bribe a Hawks investigating officer with R100,000. Hospital employee Zacharia Tsisele and Hawks warrant officer Sgt Papi Tsie appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on corruption and gratification charges. Tsisele is being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit for allegedly receiving unlawful payments from various service providers at the hospital between January 2020 and September 2023. The unit has since recovered R13.5m from him. According to the charge sheet, the bribery incident allegedly took place on 23 November in Pretoria. Tsie allegedly approached a Hawks investigating officer, indicating that Tsisele was prepared to pay them both to assist them. Tsisele and Tsie arrived at Menlyn Mall in a police vehicle. The state alleges that the accused offered R100,000 to the investigating officer to make the case disappear. In their affidavits, Chisele said he could only afford bail of R5,000, while Tsie said he could only afford R3,000. Chisele is an operations manager at the Tembisa hospital and earns R39,000 a month. Tsie earns R15,000. Chisele told the court that he has no previous convictions, no pending cases, no outstanding warrants and je intended to plead not guilty. The state did not oppose bail. The case was postponed to 27 February for further investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Koena Mashale at SowetanLive. Read too, Hawks officer granted bail amid tears in R100,000 Tembisa Hospital bribe case, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Public service department to launch offender register to clamp down on re-entry into public sector News24 reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) is to establish a central register for government officials who have been found guilty of corruption. DPSA Minister Mzamo Buthelezi announced this at a press briefing on Tuesday, ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day next Tuesday. He said the central register, alongside ongoing lifestyle audits, would serve as a national integrity barometer. “These mechanisms will ensure that the repeat offenders do not re-enter positions of influence within government and or in the supply chain. Both lifestyle audits and the offender register represent a decisive shift from active interventions to preventative governance,” Buthelezi explained. He added that the endeavours were not cosmetic, but “measures that speak to our commitment to clean administration, discipline, leadership in the public service, where ethical behaviour is a baseline and not an exception”. Buthelezi said the reforms included a streamlined, technologically driven procurement scheme that enhanced transparency and eliminated opportunities for manipulation. “They include the modernised whistleblower protection mechanisms that prioritise safety, anonymity, and follow-through. They represent a structural realignment of how government operates, how public resources are safeguarded, and how accountability is enforced at every level of administration,” he advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyamtanda Capa at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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